Integral pivoting power supply

Abstract

The subject invention relates to an integrated electronic assembly comprising a power supply and as associated electronics unit powered thereby. The integral power supply housing is pivotal with respect to the electronics unit housing. Protruding from the power supply is a plug (pair of prongs) for insertion directly into a standard electrical outlet to permit the entire assembly to be physically supported thereby. A detent is provided for holding the power supply at predetermined orientations with respect to the electronics unit. Electrical connections are maintained between the power supply and the electronics unit while they are pivoted at various orientations with respect to each other.

We claim: 
     
       1. A housing assembly, comprising a power supply;   a first housing holding said power supply;   pivot means affixed to said first housing for pivoting with said first housing;   an electronics unit powered by said power supply;   a second housing holding said electronics unit, said second housing having a cavity configured to permit said first housing to pivot within said cavity in said second housing; and   electrical connector means for providing an electrical connection between said power supply and said electronics unit while said first housing is pivoted within said cavity in said second housing.   
     
     
       2. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: detent means for opposing the pivoting of said pivot means away from a predetermined orientation between said first housing and said second housing.   
     
     
       3. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector means further comprises at least one wire flexibly connected between said power supply and said electronics unit. 
     
     
       4. The housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector means further comprises at least one pair of sliding contacts that remain in physical engagement with each other while said first housing pivots with respect to said second housing, one of said sliding contacts being affixed to said first housing and the other of said sliding contacts being affixed to said second housing. 
     
     
       5. A housing assembly which contains a power supply and an electronics unit powered thereby, comprising a first housing holding said power supply;   pivot means affixed to said first housing pivoting with said first housing;   a second housing holding said electronics unit, said second housing having a cavity configured to permit said first housing to pivot within said cavity in said second housing;   electrical connector means for providing an electrical connection between said power supply and said electronics unit while said first housing is pivoted within said cavity in said second housing;   a retaining member affixed to said second housing, said retaining member having a detent therein;   a flexible stop member affixed to said pivot means of said first housing, said flexible stop member having a convex portion engageable with said detent in said retaining member; and   biasing said convex portion of said stop member toward said retaining member so as to oppose relative rotation between said stop member and said retaining member while said convex portion and said detent are engaged, relative rotation between said stop member and said retaining member occurring when sufficient torque is applied between said retaining member and said stop member to overcome the bias applied to said convex portion.   
     
     
       6. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said first housing further comprises a two-pronged electrical plug affixed thereto and engageable with an electrical outlet, said housing assembly being physically supportable by said electrical plug when it is engaged in an electrical outlet. 
     
     
       7. An assembly comprising: a power supply;   a first housing which contains said power supply;   an electronics unit powered by said power supply;   a second housing which contains said electronics unit;   hinge means having first and second hinge members pivotable about an axis, said first hinge member being affixed to said first housing and said second hinge member being affixed to said second housing so as to permit said first housing to pivot with respect to said second housing; and   electrical connector means for providing an electrical connection between said power supply and said electronics unit while said first housing is pivoted with respect to said second housing.   
     
     
       8. An adjustable housing assembly comprising: power supply means having an external electrical plug from which said power supply means derives power when said external electrical plug is inserted into a live electrical outlet;   a first housing containing said power supply means, said electrical plug being fixedly mounted on a first exterior surface of said first housing;   pivot means having a first end fixedly mounted to a second exterior surface of said first housing, said first and second exterior surfaces being substantially perpendicular to each other, said pivot means also having a second end;   an electronics unit;   a second housing containing said electronics unit, said second housing having a cavity configured to permit said first housing to be pivotably mounted therein;   bracket means affixed to said second housing receiving said second end of said pivot means, said bracket means pivotably retaining said pivot means therein so as to permit said first housing to pivot within said cavity in said second housing; and   electrical connector means for providing an electrical connection between said power supply means in said first housing and said electronics unit in said second housing while said first housing is pivoted within said cavity in said second housing, whereby the position of said first housing with respect to said second housing can be adjusted to facilitate insertion of said electrical plug into an electrical outlet.